“Hamburg one of the most vital hubs for the Silk Road”

Better known as the New Silk Road, the “One Belt, One Road” initiative is being strongly promoted by the highest echelon of the government of the People’s Republic of China. As Northern Europe’s largest port and logistics hub, Hamburg is already playing an import part here. This was confirmed by Lars Anke, Port of Hamburg Marketing’s Shanghai representative, as a participant on 29 June in a panel discussion at the Logistics Global Leader Forum during the China International Transportation and Logistics Expo in the West Chinese metropolis of Chengdu.

“Whether for sea or land transport links, Hamburg is seen in China as one of the main hubs for the Silk Road,” stated Anke. At the Logistics Global Leader Forum, the Managing Director of the Port of Hamburg’s Representative Office in Shanghai made special mention of the Port of Hamburg’s significance for intermodal services, also handling questions from interested listeners.

For seaborne transport, Hamburg is now the leading European seaport for China’s foreign trade. With almost 2.6 million TEU in 2016, the Middle Kingdom is already Hamburg’s top partner for container transport. Almost one container in three of those handled in the Port of Hamburg is bound for China or arriving from there by sea.

In rail transport between Hamburg and China, the New Silk Road offers highly promising potential for the Hanseatic City. From Lars Anke’s point of view, two aspects are important in that context: “On the one hand, the increased cooperation and joint activity between our logisticians and Chinese rail operators that is already a fact. We should continue to encourage that. On the other, Hamburg’s pioneering role and expertise in intermodal services, bringing together the sea and land corridors.”

The New Silk Road is a vast development project for China: Billions are flowing into investments in infrastructure and the build-up of train links. The Elbe port is already underscoring its position as a significant Silk Road hub by offering 177 container block train connections per week.